Fifth-wheel.



No. 687,923. Patented Dec. 3, 1901.

s. N. une.

FIFTH WHEEL.

(Application fil'ed Apr. 23, 1901.)

(No Model.)

1 d WITNESSES INVENTOR mvw k/mi 4, gMX MW UNITED STATES rrrcn.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,923, dated December 3, 1901.

Application filed April 23,1901.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL N. LONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Harwich, in the county of Barnstable and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fifth-wheels for vehicles; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front View of the fifth-wheel, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the lower plate, showing the ball-bearing.

A is a portion of the axle of a vehicle.

B is a lower bearing-plate provided with a clip b, which straddles the axle and is provided with bolts 1) at its lower ends.

0 is a cross-bar under the axle. The crossbar has holes through which the ends of the bolts 1) project, and 0 represents nuts on the ends of the said bolts for securing the lower plate B firmly to the axle. The cross-bar G has a stem 0?, and D is a stay which engages with the said stem.

A center pin E projects vertically from the lower bearing-plate B, and e is a ba1l-race formed in the plate B around the base of the Serial No. 57,100. (No model.)

pin E. The pin E is preferably tapered, and

it turns in asocket in the cross-bar E, which is secured to the body of the vehicle. Nuts fare provided on the upper end of the pin E for holding the parts in working contact.

G is the upper bearingp1ate, secured to the cross-bar F and overlapping the plate B slightly, so that dirt cannot fall upon it. The upper bearing-plate is provided with a ballrace g, and 9 represents antifriction'balls which run in the ball-races between the two said plates.

This fifth-wheel is simple and easily constructed, andit turns very freely on its axis.

What I claim is- In a fifth-wheel, the combination, with a lower bearing-plate having a central pivotpin, a ball-race close adjacent to the base of the pin, and a clip for securing the said plate to the axle, all the said parts being formed integral with the said plate; of an upper bearing-plate which is journaled on the said pin and arranged in contact with the said lower bearing-plate and provided with a ball-race over the aforesaid ball-race; and balls between the said races, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL N. LONG.

Witnesses:

ALICE J. MURRAY, FRED. K. DAGGETT. 

